Foot support



L. D. NOBLE FOOT surrom Mar. 5, 1929.

Filed Aug. 24. 1922' Lari/e 7. 40m.

. reason of the elastic therein, the

Patented Mar. 5, 1929.

I C E LESLIE I). NOBLE, OF DETROIT, MICHIGAN.

FOOT SUPPORT.

Application filed jAugust 24, 1922. Serial No. 583,944.

This invention relates to foot supports particularly for use by people having weak or fallen arches, and the object is to provide a support which may be worn on the foot and insertible therewith in the shoe in' correct position to overcome such defects. Bythe arrangement, as is hereinafter de scribed, the pressure and weight of the body is relieved largely from the arch of thefoot so that the samemay recover correct position and become strengthened and grow naturally in correct form. Preferably the device is provided with an elastic strap or the like extending in a loop over the support and the foot is slipped through this loop and, by support is naturally held in position. It is placed on the foot and tends to retain the position on the foot when in the shoe. The support proper as provided at the forward end is shaped to provide a pad directly beneath the metatarsus bones of the foot to support the same centrally at that point and to secure ease in wearing, the device is formed preferably of sponge rubber or like substance that is yieldable in character tosome extent, corkhaving been used with good results. An additional object of the invention is to provide a foot support of the general character stated, the body of which is formed of a resilient or yieldable material having a pad at the forward end beneath the metatarsal bones and a beneath the arch of the foot on the inner side. These objects and the several novel features of the invention are hereinafter more fully described and claimed, and the preferred form of construction of a foot support embodyingmv invention is shown in the accompanying rawing in which Fig. 1 is a plan view showing thedevice applied to the foot, the elastic band extending across the foot not being shown.

- Fig. 2 is an enlarged plan View showing the upper side of my improved support, the elastic band or webbing being broken away to clearly show the upper surface of the support.

Fig. 3 is aplan view of an alternative form of my improved device.

Fig. 4 is a cross section taken on line 4-4 of Fig. 3.

,As will be understood from Fig. 2, the foot support consists of a body of resilient material such as sponge rubber, cork or similar material, the outline in plan being similar pad directly I indicated by the line 1. This is enclosed in a casing formed of cloth or leather parts 2 sewed together at the edges and provided on opposite sides with the side flaps 3 and 4 to which preferably is sewed an elastic webbing 5 which extends across the top of the foot as will be clearly-understood from Fig. 4. The elastic 5 is broken away in Fig. 2 exposing to View the shape of the filler member. :In Fig. 2 it will be noted by the shade lines that a pad 6 is formed at the forward end thereof and another pad 7 of peculiar form at therear thereof. The pad 6 is intended to be so positioned on the foot as to comev immediately beneath the metatarsus bones while the pad 7 lies immediately beneath the longitudinal arch ofthe foot. The pad 6 serves to hold the foot from spreading, maintaining the central metatarsus bones somewhat higher than those on each side and together with the pad 7 strengthens and supports the arch of the foot. The insert 1 is shown in section in Fig. 4, and it will also be observed that preferably the insert extends asv indicated at 8 in Fig 2 a slight distance to one side of and into the flap. Both sides, however, may be formed with the extensions 8 if desired. Extensions sometimes may be provided on both sides particularly if the insert is formed as shown in Fig. 3 with a single pad 6 only for use beneath the metatarsus bones. Oftentimes this is the only correction needed and when such is the case the pad 7 beneaththe arch is not required. In this type the extensions 9 and 10 on each'side extend into the flaps 11 and 12 between which extends an elastic 13'broken away in Fig. 3 to show the plan View of the support. In both cases in Fig. 2 and Fig. 3 the filler member is sewed within a leather member or cloth casing and by provision of the extensions 8 or 9. which extend upward on each side of the foot as will i be understood from Fig. 4, the tendency of the pad to move out of place beneath the foot is avoided. Both forms of the device are worn inthe same Way and are for corrections of the same general type of deformity. Also in both cases the elastic member is preferably used as this enables the pad to be placed on the foot, the elastic webbing strengthening and supporting the foot to a greater or less extent and also stretches as" maybe required due to the form of the foot or the position of the support thereon. The elastic lies across the top of the foot as will be readily understood from the foregoing; The lower surface of the support is preferably flat while the pads 6 and 7 in the one case or 6 as shown in Fig. 3 extend upward- 1y therefrom as will be understood from Fig. 4.

Having thus briefly described my invention, what I claim and desire tosecure by Letters Patent of the United States is 1'. A foot support consisting of a member adaptedtoextend longitudinally of the bottom .of the foot and having integral side flaps intermediate its length, a second member of similar outline positioned thereover and, the two members stitched together at the edges, an elastic band having its opposite ends secured between the members at the 7 ends of the flaps respectively, a pad of the same general outline as said members held in position thercbetween by the stitching and having a thickened portion forward of the flaps lying beneath the metatarsal arch of the foot and an integral thickened portion extending to the rear and providinga support for the longitudinal arch.

2. A foot support consisting of a mem- 1 her having a base portion to be positioned on the under side of the foot longitudinally thereof and integral side flaps, a second member of similar form positioned there- :2 Q i V 1,703,895

pad between the said members in the body portion thereof,having a t-hickened portion for supporting the metatarsal arch, said thickened portion having an outline at its forward end corresponding to thatv of the forward end ofthe said two members and lying'with its edge adjacent the said stitching and supported thereby fromvmovement, the said pad also having a thinner integral portion thereof extending a slightdistance into the base of one of the flaps. 5

3. A foot support consisting of a flexible member adapted to be positioned to extend. longitudinally of the bottom of the foot and having integral side flaps intermediate its length, a second flexible member of similar outline positioned thereover and the two members being stitched together at the peripheralaedge, means attached to thetwo flaps adapted to secure the support on the foot, a pad having the same general outline as said members, the periphery of which extends practicallyto the said stitchextending into the base of a-flap, said pad also having an integral .partextending into the face of the opposite flap;

In testimony whereof, I sign this specifica-tioni i c LE SLIE D. NOBLE.

ring wherebyit is held from displacement 

